KR20230039152A - Ptc assembly and ptc heater including it - Google Patents

Abstract

A PTC assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a PTC element that generates heat by an applied power supply; a guide frame equipped with a mounting part in which the PTC element is mounted; and a flexible circuit board comprising a first electrode pattern, a second electrode pattern formed on the same surface part as the first electrode pattern, and a folding part which is a folding part, wherein the first electrode pattern receives one surface of the PTC element, when the flexible circuit board is folded based on the folding part, and the second electrode pattern receives the other surface of the PTC element. Therefore, the present invention enables the device adaptability to be further optimized.

Description

PTC assembly and PTC heater including the same {PTC ASSEMBLY AND PTC HEATER INCLUDING IT}

The present invention relates to a PTC assembly and a PTC heater including the same, and more particularly, to a PTC assembly to which an improved structure for electrical connection is applied.

A PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) element or PTC thermistor, which is also referred to as a positive characteristic thermistor, is an element having a behavior characteristic in which the temperature rises and the electrical resistance rapidly increases due to a phase transition.

Since the PTC element has electrical behavior characteristics in which electrical resistance rapidly increases, it is also used as a switch that performs an on/off function, and also reaches a high temperature in a relatively short time and the elevated temperature can be maintained continuously, so it is used as a heating element in vehicle heaters, dryers, warmers, and thermal mats.

Recently, as issues related to energy efficiency and eco-friendliness have grown, the supply of EVs (Electric Vehicles) has been expanding. These electric vehicles do not have internal combustion engines, so they can use the heat source in the engine room to heat the inside of the vehicle. or its use is limited.

Due to the characteristics of these installation environments, the PTC heater is applied as a main heater in electric vehicles, etc. The air (air) is configured to flow out in the direction of the target.

As disclosed in Korean Registration Publication No. 10-1913121, etc., the PTC heater is composed of one or more PTC elements, a guide frame to which the PTC elements are coupled, and a plate made of metal that serves one side and the other side of the PTC element, respectively. It includes a PTC assembly (also referred to as a PTC rod or a heat rod) which is a unit having an electrode plate and the like.

In order to implement selective heating for each area or increase thermal efficiency, a plurality of such PTC assemblies are installed in the PTC heater, and each PTC assembly is inserted into a metal tube or/and a heat dissipation fin/fin that expands the contact area. It is also organically combined with a heat dissipation (heat release) structure such as a plate.

In the case of a conventional PTC assembly, a PTC device is coupled to a physical guide (guide frame) having an opening, and a positive electrode plate and a common electrode plate made of metal having a plate shape so that power is applied to the PTC device through a circuit configuration. (negative electrode plate) is configured to contact both sides of the PTC element, respectively.

In addition, each of these electrode plates includes an electrode having a shape extending in the longitudinal direction, and these electrodes are assembled and coupled to be exposed to the outside of the PTC assembly in a penetrating manner after being inserted into the guide frame.

Therefore, in the case of the conventional PTC assembly, the volume increases as much as the thickness of the electrode plate, and space for the electrode to be inserted and penetrated and the physical structure for the seating of the electrode plate must be provided in the guide frame, so the space utilization can be said to be low. There is, and this decrease in space utilization is directly related to the decrease in efficiency of the PTC heater or the PTC assembly itself.

In addition, in the case of the conventional PTC assembly, since the process of inserting and penetrating the electrode in the upper direction of the guide frame must be necessarily accompanied, the process efficiency is low and it is difficult to optimize the process automation.

In addition, since the process of attaching an insulating film or tape such as PI film in the order of the assembly process must be performed in the process of assembling the individual parts constituting the PTC assembly, the process of attaching the insulating film independently in a strictly limited space such as a clean room It can be said to be difficult to carry out.

For this reason, foreign substances may be introduced during the process of attaching/combining the insulating film or tape, and the introduced foreign substances may easily damage the insulating film or the like due to external impact, thereby causing a fatal problem in electrical reliability or safety.

In particular, since the PTC heater is equipped with a plurality of PTC assemblies connected together with the same polarity, even if a problem occurs in one PTC assembly, it affects the entire PTC heater, which can cause serious safety accidents.

On the other hand, the PTC device physically vibrates or vibrates when power is applied. Since the plate-shaped electrode plate having rigidity is in contact with the PTC device, the vibration of the PTC device is transmitted to the electrode plate as it is. The fact that unnecessary noise may occur is also a problem that needs to be overcome.

The present invention was devised to solve the above-mentioned problems in the background as described above, and through structural application using folding of a flexible printed circuit board, the configuration related to the electrical connection of the PTC assembly is simply and easily implemented, miniaturization or miniaturization at an essential level. Its purpose is to provide a PTC assembly and a PTC heater including the same that can realize weight reduction and fundamentally improve thermal efficiency as well as device applicability based on this.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention can be understood by the following description, and will be more clearly understood by the embodiments of the present invention. In addition, the objects and advantages of the present invention can be realized by the configuration shown in the claims and the combination of the configuration.

A PTC assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object includes a PTC device generating heat by an applied power source; a guide frame provided with a mounting portion to which the PTC device is mounted; and a flexible circuit board including a first electrode pattern, a second electrode pattern formed on the same surface as the first electrode pattern, and a folding part that is a folded portion, wherein the flexible circuit board of the present invention When folded based on the part, the first electrode pattern may contact one surface of the PTC device and the second electrode pattern may contact the other surface of the PTC device.

Specifically, the flexible printed circuit board of the present invention includes a first branch connected to the first electrode pattern and extending to the folding part; and a second branch connected to the second electrode pattern and having a shape extending toward the folding part.

Preferably, the flexible printed circuit board of the present invention may be configured to further include an open portion exposing at least one of the first branch or the second branch to the outside of the flexible printed circuit board when the flexible printed circuit board is folded. .

In addition, the PTC device of the present invention may include a first PTC device and a second PTC device, and the second electrode pattern may include first and second sub-electrode patterns.

In this case, the first electrode pattern of the present invention contacts both surfaces of the first and second PTC devices when the flexible printed circuit board is folded based on the folding part, and the first sub-electrode pattern The second sub-electrode pattern may contact the other surface of the first PTC device and the second sub-electrode pattern may contact the other surface of the second PTC device.

In addition, the flexible circuit board of the present invention is connected to the first electrode pattern and has a first branch extending to the folding part; a first sub-branch connected to the first sub-electrode pattern and extending to the folding part; and a second sub-branch connected to the second sub-electrode pattern and having a shape extending toward the folding part.

In this case, the flexible circuit board of the present invention further includes an opening portion exposing at least one of the first branch, the first sub-branch, and the second sub-branch to the outside of the flexible circuit board when the flexible circuit board is folded. It is preferable to be configured to do so.

More preferably, the flexible circuit board of the present invention is formed on a surface portion opposite to the surface portion on which the first and second electrode patterns are formed, and a ground pattern formed on one or more of one side or the other side based on the folding part; and a third branch that is connected to the ground pattern, has a shape extending to the folding part, and is exposed to the outside when the flexible printed circuit board is folded.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a plate-shaped metal electrode plate having a thickness of a certain level or more can be replaced with a patterned flexible printed circuit board (FPCB), so that the metal electrode plate is applied as an essential configuration PTC Various problems of assembly can be fundamentally solved.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, since the structure for exposing the electrode plate to the outside and allowing the electrode plate to be seated can be removed from the guide frame, a relatively more expanded PTC device can be mounted or Based on the PTC device, the size of the PTC assembly itself can be drastically reduced, so that the device adaptability as well as the thermal efficiency of the PTC assembly can be further optimized.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, an independent process of manufacturing a flexible circuit board by separating the process of providing a member for insulation such as a PI film from the process of assembling physical or electrical components of the PTC assembly, that is, Since it can be included in a process that can be implemented in an extremely limited environment such as a clean room, various problems such as insulation breakdown and short circuit caused by infiltration of foreign substances can be fundamentally solved.

In the case of the present invention, the circuit configuration for supplying power to the PTC device is completed by simply folding the flexible circuit board having a shape extending in the longitudinal direction with respect to the center portion, thus assembling the PTC assembly The efficiency of the process itself can be dramatically increased.

In the case of the present invention, both sides of the flexible circuit board are used integrally, but the electrode pattern for supplying power to the PTC device on one side and the electrode pattern for grounding on the opposite side can be formed simultaneously, resulting in non-insulation The structure for overall integrated grounding of components having (conductive material) can also be implemented more simply.

The following drawings attached to this specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention, and together with the detailed description of the present invention serve to more effectively understand the technical idea of the present invention, the present invention is described in these drawings It should not be construed as being limited to the specifics.
1 is a view showing the overall configuration of a PTC assembly and a PTC heater according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
2 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a PTC assembly according to preferred embodiments of the present invention;
3 and 4 are views showing the internal configuration of a PTC assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
5 is a view explaining the electrical connection relationship of the PTC assembly;
6 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of a PTC assembly according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Prior to this, the terms or words used in this specification and claims should not be construed as being limited to the usual or dictionary meaning, and the inventor appropriately uses the concept of the term in order to explain his/her invention in the best way. It should be interpreted as a meaning and concept consistent with the technical idea of the present invention based on the principle that it can be defined.

Therefore, since the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations shown in the drawings are only one of the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent all of the technical ideas of the present invention, various equivalents that can replace them at the time of the present application It should be understood that there may be waters and variations.

1 is a view showing the overall configuration of a PTC heater 1000 including a PTC assembly 100 and the PTC assembly 100 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the preferred embodiment of the present invention It is a diagram showing the overall configuration of the PTC assembly 100 according to the embodiments.

The PTC heater 1000 or the PTC heater device of the present invention can be implemented in a form mounted in a vehicle air conditioning system (HVAC), etc., and is disposed on a path through which air introduced from the outside moves into the vehicle interior by the HVAC It corresponds to a device that heats the moving air so that the air whose temperature is elevated is discharged into the vehicle.

As shown in the figure, the PTC heater 1000 of the present invention includes one or more PTC assemblies 100 provided to be spaced apart in the transverse direction, a hold frame 200 accommodating them, and an upper portion of the hold frame 200 It may be configured to include a coupled housing 300.

As described above, the PTC assembly 100 is also referred to as a heat rod or a PTC road, and is a PTC element 50, which is a heating element that generates heat by an applied power source (see FIG. 3). ) and a guide frame (140, see FIG. 3) provided with one or more mounting parts (141, see FIG. 3) to which the PTC device 50 is mounted.

The PTC assembly 100 of the present invention may include a pin for radiating heat 120 and a pin plate 130 provided on the side surface to increase heat dissipation efficiency and having a structure in which the surface area is expanded. Accordingly, the tube 110 made of a metal material such as aluminum to which the PTC device 50 and the guide frame 140 are mounted may be included or a physical guide corresponding thereto.

As shown in FIG. 1, the PTC assembly 100 has a shape extending in the vertical length direction (Z-axis direction), is connected to an electrode pattern that contacts the internal PTC element 50, and is electrically connected to an external power source. Terminal parts (T, CT) functioning as so-called connector terminals to be connected are configured to be exposed at the top.

In the following description, the upper, lower, or corresponding directions (vertical directions, etc.) or positional relationships are based on the Z-axis direction shown in FIG. 1, and the left and right or corresponding directions are based on the Y-axis direction. It should be interpreted that it is only for relatively defining the positional relationship of the configuration, and does not mean a specific direction or position of an absolute standard.

The hold frame 200 accommodates one or more PTC assemblies 100 in a form in which an upper portion of the PTC assembly 100, that is, a portion where the short-wave terminal parts CT, T1, and T2 are located is opened.

The hold frame 200 may be formed in an integrated form, but the end frame 230 supporting the lower part of the PTC assembly 100 and the left and right sides of the PTC assembly 100 in order to increase the efficiency of the assembly or coupling relationship. It may be composed of a side frame 220 supporting the side.

The housing 300 of the present invention is configured to be coupled to the hold frame 200 at the top of the hold frame 200, and controls power applied to the PTC device 50 of the PTC assembly 100 therein. A circuit board 305 on which control elements such as IGBTs are mounted and a structure for interconnecting terminals having the same polarity among the terminal parts (CT, T) of the plurality of PCT assembly 100 (bus bar ) or (flexible) circuit board, etc.) and the like are provided.

The ground wire (W) is a component to prevent safety accidents such as short circuits in advance, and one side of the ground wire (W) is connected to a component or member made of a conductive material (except for components for power application, etc.) And, the other side of the ground wire (W) is connected to the body frame of the vehicle.

The PTC assembly 100 of the present invention is a configuration for applying power to the PTC device 50, and instead of an electrode plate having a metal plate shape as in the prior art, an electrode pattern contacting the PTC device 50 is formed. A circuit board (FPCB, Flexible Printed Circuit Board) 150 is applied.

As shown in FIG. 2 , the PTC assembly 100 of the present invention is implemented in a form in which the flexible circuit board 150 covers both sides of the PTC device 50 mounted on the guide frame 140 . A detailed configuration thereof will be described later.

The PTC assembly 100 of the present invention, as shown in the left embodiment of FIG. It may further include a tube 110 made of a metal material such as aluminum to be.

In addition, in the PTC assembly 100 of the present invention, according to the embodiment, the heat dissipation fin 120 or the fin plate 130 is directly attached to the outside of the flexible printed circuit board 150 without the tube 110 as in the right embodiment of FIG. 2 . It can also be implemented in the form of serving on the side.

Even in the embodiment including the tube 110 made of a metal material, as shown in the right embodiment of FIG.

In FIG. 2, CT and T (T1, T2) mean terminal parts to which power is applied to the PTC device 50, and G means a terminal part for grounding. A detailed description of this will be described later.

3 and 4 are diagrams showing the internal configuration of the PTC assembly 100 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a diagram explaining the electrical connection of the PTC assembly 100.

As described above, the PTC assembly 100 of the present invention has a guide frame 140 provided with a PTC device 50 generating heat by an applied power and a mounting portion 141 on which the PTC device 50 is mounted. ) and a flexible circuit board 150 covering the guide frame 140 on which the PTC device 50 is mounted.

As shown in FIG. 3, the flexible printed circuit board 150 according to the present invention has a shape extending in the vertical length direction as a whole and is formed on the same surface as the first electrode pattern 152 and the first electrode pattern 152. It includes the second electrode pattern 153 and the folding part F, which is an area of folding of the flexible circuit board 150 as a whole.

The first and second electrode patterns 152 and 153 may be formed by patterning on the base plate 151 of the flexible printed circuit board 150, and according to the embodiment, the flexible printed circuit board 150 is FCCL (Flexible Copper Clad Laminated), etc., of course, may be implemented without a base plate.

The folding part (F) may generally correspond to the central portion (based on the longitudinal direction) of the flexible circuit board 150, but the number and location of the PTC elements 50 provided inside the PTC assembly 100 , It may be different from this depending on the arrangement method.

The first electrode pattern 152 formed on the flexible circuit board 150 is located on one side of the folding part F, and the second electrode pattern 153 is formed on the same surface as the first electrode pattern 152. However, it is located on the other side based on the folding part (F).

Therefore, when the flexible circuit board 150 is folded based on the folding part F of the flexible circuit board 150, the first electrode pattern 152 contacts one surface of the PTC device 50, and the second electrode The pattern 153 comes into contact with the other surface of the PTC device 50.

According to this electrical connection relationship, the first electrode pattern 152 → one side of the PTC device 50 → the other side of the PTC device 50 → a closed circuit in the order of the second electrode pattern 153 or vice versa is composed

There may be one or more PTC elements 50 provided inside the PTC assembly 100. According to the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 50) may be grouped by section in which independent heating is performed.

FIG. 3 illustrates a PTC device 50 divided into a first PTC device 50A constituting an upper section and a first PTC device 50B constituting a lower section as one embodiment of this.

In the case of an embodiment in which individual heating is performed independently, the second electrode pattern 153 is divided into a first sub-electrode pattern 153-1 and a second sub-electrode pattern 153-2.

The first electrode pattern 152 corresponding to the common electrode may be preferably implemented as a common pattern as illustrated in the drawing, but may be diversified to correspond to the number of groups of the PTC devices 50 according to the embodiment. may be

When the flexible circuit board 150 is folded based on the folding part F, the first electrode pattern 152 naturally comes into contact with both surfaces of the first and second PCC elements 50B and 50B, The first sub-electrode pattern 153-1 naturally comes into contact with the other surface of the first PTC device 50A, and the second sub-electrode pattern 153-2 naturally contacts the other surface of the second PTC device 50B.

That is, in the case of the first PTC device 50A, the first electrode pattern 152 → one side of the first PTC device 50A → the other side of the first PTC device 50A → the first sub-electrode pattern 153 A circuit is formed through the relationship of -1), and in the case of the second PTC device 50B, the first electrode pattern 152 → one side of the second PTC device 50B → the second PTC device 50B A circuit is formed through the relationship of the other side of → the second sub-electrode pattern 153-2.

3 and 4, the first branch 157 of the present invention is connected to the first electrode pattern 152 and has a shape extending to the folding part (F). The first branch 157 may also be formed by patterning and may be integrally patterned with the first electrode pattern 152 . In a corresponding point of view, the second branch 158 is connected to the second electrode pattern 153 and has a shape extending to the folding part F like the first branch 157 .

In the case of an embodiment in which the PTC device 50 is divided into a first PTC device 50A and a second PTC device 50B, the second branch 158 is connected to the first sub electrode pattern 153-1. and connected to the first sub-branch 158A and the second sub-electrode pattern 153-2 extending to the folding part F and the second sub-branch 158B extending to the folding part F include

Based on the folding part F, the first branch 157 connected to the first electrode pattern 152 enters in one direction, and the first branch 157 connected to the first sub electrode pattern 153-1 enters in the other direction. The second sub-branch 158B connected to the sub-branch 158A and the second sub-electrode pattern 153-2 enters.

As shown in FIG. 4, the first branch 157, the first branch 157, the first electrode pattern 152, etc. An open portion 159 exposing at least one of the sub-branch 158A or the second sub-branch 158B to the outside of the flexible printed circuit board 150 is formed.

Therefore, when the flexible printed circuit board 150 is folded in the inward direction, the first branch 157, the first sub-branch 158A or the second sub-branch 158B extending to the folding part F is the opening part ( 159), the terminal parts CT, T1(T), and T2(T) are naturally formed.

That is, as shown in FIG. 5 and the like, the terminal part CT is connected to the first electrode pattern 152 through the first branch 157, and the terminal part T1 is connected to the first electrode pattern 152 through the first sub-branch 158A. The first sub electrode pattern 153-1 and the terminal part T2 are respectively connected to the second sub electrode pattern 153-2 through the second sub branch 158B.

In this way, when power is applied based on CT and T1 among the naturally exposed terminal parts to function as connector terminals, the first PT device (50A) generates heat, and when power is applied to CT and T2, the second PT Heating drive of the seed element 50B is performed.

According to the embodiment, one or more guide grooves (S) into which the protrusions 143 and 144 of the guide frame 140 are fitted, as illustrated in FIG. 4, to more effectively align the position of the flexible circuit board 150 It is preferable to configure such that it is provided in the folding part (F).

As described above, since the electrode structure for applying power to the PTC device 50 in the PTC assembly 100 of the present invention is implemented as an electrode pattern formed on the flexible printed circuit board 150 instead of a metal plate, the PTC assembly 100 It is possible to essentially reduce the size or volume, and further optimize the device adaptability as well as the thermal efficiency of the PTC assembly.

In addition, since the PTC assembly 100 of the present invention can expose parts functioning as connector terminals to the outside only by applying a simple structure in which the flexible printed circuit board 150 is folded, the physical and electrical structures required for power application are completely omitted. This can dramatically improve the efficiency of the assembly process.

In addition, as the object facing the PTC device 50, which causes vibration and shaking, is replaced from an electrode plate having rigidity to a flexible circuit board to which elastic force is essentially added, the vibration and the like generated by the PTC device 50 are reduced. Since it is sufficiently absorbed or dispersed through the flexible printed circuit board 150, generation of unnecessary noise can also be suppressed.

6 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the PTC assembly 100 according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

In the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of electrode patterns contacting the PTC element 50 are formed on the same surface (Front in FIG. 6) of the flexible printed circuit board 150 as in the previously described embodiment, One or more ground patterns 155-1 and 155-2 are additionally formed on the opposite side of the surface on which the electrode pattern is formed (Back in FIG. 6).

As described above and shown in the middle drawing of FIG. 6, the first electrode pattern 152, the first sub-electrode pattern 153-1, and the second sub-electrode pattern 153-2 are formed on one side of the flexible printed circuit board 150. ) is formed, and each of these electrode patterns extends to the folding part F through the first branch 157, the first sub-branch 158A, and the second sub-branch 158B as described above.

Of course, unless independent heating is performed for each section, the first sub-electrode pattern 153-1 and the second sub-electrode pattern 153-2 can be unified into the second electrode pattern 153. .

When the flexible printed circuit board 150 is folded, the first branch 157 extending to the folding part F is exposed to the outside through the opening 159 and functions as an electrode part CT. From a corresponding point of view, each of the first and second sub-branches 158A and 158A is exposed to the outside through the opening 159 and functions as the electrode parts T1 and T2.

Of the flexible circuit board 150, on the opposite side of the surface on which the electrode patterns and branches are patterned, as shown in the lowermost drawing of FIG. 6, ground patterns 155-1, 155-2) is formed.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, when ground patterns are formed on both sides of the folding part (F), the ground pattern formed on one side of the folding part (F) is used as the first ground pattern (155-1) and the ground pattern formed on the other side is referred to as the second ground pattern 155-2.

The third branch 156 is formed on the same surface as the first and second ground patterns 155-1 and 155-2, and the first ground pattern 155-1 or/and the second ground pattern 155-2 2) and has a shape extending to the folding part (F).

As described above, when the flexible printed circuit board 150 is folded inward, the third branch 156 is located on the outer surface of the flexible printed circuit board 150, so it is exposed to the outside as shown in FIG. It will function as part (G).

In the drawing, the branches and electrode patterns are expressed as they are in order to emphasize the interconnection relationship between each branch and each electrode pattern, but in reality, in the process of manufacturing the flexible printed circuit board 150, the area where external exposure needs to be suppressed is insulated. It goes without saying that a film (tape) may be attached.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, when the ground pattern is composed of the first ground pattern 155-1 and the second ground pattern 155-2, the third branch 156 interconnects these ground patterns. can be patterned into

As described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a tube 110, a heat dissipation fin 120, etc. may be added to the PTC assembly 100 of the present invention, and these components are made of a metal material for heat dissipation efficiency. case is common.

Since these tubes 110 or radiating fins 120 come into contact with the side surface of the PTC assembly 100, as described above, the first ground pattern 155-1 or / And when the second ground pattern 155-2 is formed, it is naturally electrically connected to the first or second ground patterns 155-1 and 155-2.

The third branch 156 electrically connected to the first or second ground patterns 155-1 and 155-2 functions as a ground terminal part G, and this ground terminal part G is another terminal part It is configured to be uniformly exposed in a specific direction of the PTC assembly 100 together with (CT, T1, T2).

The control module for controlling the PTC device 50 is provided in the housing 300, and as seen in FIG. 1, the housing 300 is provided on top of the plurality of PTC assemblies 100, so (G), terminal parts (CT, T1, T2), etc. are preferably configured to be exposed in the upward direction of the PTC assembly 100.

In this way, according to the present invention, since all the ground terminal parts (G) and terminal parts (CT, T1, T2) of each of the plurality of PTC assemblies 100 have the same directionality and are exposed, the same polarity is electrically connected to each other structure can be implemented more simply and clearly.

In addition, in the case of the ground terminal part (G), since it is electrically connected to the tube 110 and the heat radiation fin 120 added to the individual PTC assembly 100, each ground terminal part (G) of the individual PTC assembly 100 A unified grounding structure of the entire PTC heater 1000 can be implemented through a simple structure of connecting an object (such as a bus bar or a flexible circuit board) interconnecting the ground wire (W).

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, in order to increase the alignment efficiency of the flexible circuit board 150, the guide groove S into which the protrusion 144 provided in the guide frame 140 is fitted is formed in the flexible circuit board 150. It can be.

Although the present invention has been described above with limited examples and drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto and will be described below and the technical spirit of the present invention by those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs. Of course, various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the claims.

In the description of the present invention described above, modifiers such as first and second are only terms of instrumental concepts used to relatively distinguish components from each other, so they are used to indicate a specific order, priority, etc. It should be interpreted that it is not a term that

Although the accompanying drawings and the like for illustration of the description of the present invention and its embodiments may be shown in a slightly exaggerated form in order to emphasize or highlight the technical contents according to the present invention, the above-described contents and matters shown in the drawings Taking into account, it should be interpreted that it is obvious that various types of modifications can be applied at the level of those skilled in the art.

1000: PTC heater 100: PTC assembly
200: hold frame 50: PTC device
50A: 1st PTC device 50B: 2nd PTC device
110: tube 120: radiation fin
130: pin plate 140: guide frame
141: mounting part 143, 144: protrusion part
150: flexible circuit board 151: base plate
152: first electrode pattern 153: second electrode pattern
153-1: first sub-electrode pattern 153-2: second sub-electrode pattern
155-1: first ground pattern 155-2: second ground pattern
156: third branch 157: first branch
158: second branch 158A: first sub-branch
158B: second sub-branch 159: opening
CT, T1, T2: Terminal part G: Ground terminal part
S: guide groove

Claims (8)

A PTC device generating heat by an applied power source;
a guide frame provided with a mounting portion to which the PTC device is mounted; and
A flexible circuit board including a first electrode pattern, a second electrode pattern formed on the same surface as the first electrode pattern, and a folding part that is a folded portion,
When the flexible circuit board is folded based on the folding part, the first electrode pattern contacts one surface of the PTC device and the second electrode pattern contacts the other surface of the PTC device. Mr Assembly. The method of claim 1, wherein the flexible circuit board,
a first branch connected to the first electrode pattern and extending to the folding part; and
The PTC assembly further comprises a second branch connected to the second electrode pattern and having a shape extending to the folding part. The method of claim 2, wherein the flexible circuit board,
When the flexible circuit board is folded, the PC assembly further comprises an opening exposing at least one of the first branch or the second branch to the outside of the flexible circuit board. The method of claim 1, wherein the PTC device,
Including a first PTC device and a second PTC device,
The second electrode pattern includes first and second sub-electrode patterns,
When the flexible printed circuit board is folded based on the folding part, the first electrode pattern contacts both surfaces of the first and second PTC devices, and the first sub-electrode pattern connects the first PTC device and the second sub-electrode pattern contacts the other surface of the second PTC device. The method of claim 4, wherein the flexible circuit board,
a first branch connected to the first electrode pattern and extending to the folding part;
a first sub-branch connected to the first sub-electrode pattern and extending to the folding part; and
The PTC assembly further comprises a second sub-branch connected to the second sub-electrode pattern and having a shape extending to the folding part. The method of claim 5, wherein the flexible circuit board,
and an open portion exposing at least one of the first branch, the first sub-branch, or the second sub-branch to the outside of the flexible circuit board when the flexible printed circuit board is folded. The method of claim 1, wherein the flexible circuit board,
a ground pattern formed on a surface portion opposite to the surface portion on which the first and second electrode patterns are formed, and formed on at least one of one side or the other side of the folding part; and
The PTC assembly further comprises a third branch connected to the ground pattern, having a shape extending to the folding part, and exposed to the outside when the flexible printed circuit board is folded. A PTC heater comprising the PTC assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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